GenAI and me: the hidden work of building and maintaining an augmentative partnership

Nina Boulus-Rødje, Jocelyn Cranefield, Cathal Doyle*, Benedicte Fleron

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

It has been argued that emergent AI systems should be viewed as working partners rather than tools. Building on this perspective, this study investigates the process through which academics develop a working partnership with generative AI chatbots using a relationship lens and collaborative autoethnographic methods. Based on a collaborative autoethnographic analysis of our experiences of working with AI, we identify five stages of relationship development in building a successful working partnership with generative AI: Playing Around, Infatuation, Committing, Frustration, and Enlightenment and Readjustment. In reporting each stage, we provide vignettes to illustrate the emotional and cognitive challenges and rewards involved, the developing skills, and the experienced anthropomorphic dimension of this emerging relationship. Drawing on prior theory, we identify and examine three types of work that are required in developing this working partnership: articulation work, relationship work, and identity work. We analyse how each type of work unfolds with the stages of relationship development and consider implications for research and practice.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102383
JournalPersonal and Ubiquitous Computing
Volume28
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)861-874
Number of pages14
ISSN1617-4909
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

Keywords

  • Articulation work
  • Autoethnography
  • Generative AI
  • Identity work
  • Relationship work

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